The inevitable first report: Swisher wants Werth money

Via Jon Heyman, outfielder Nick Swisher is likely to seek Jayson Werth money when he hits free agency after the season. That means seven years and $126M. This was inevitable, Werth and the Nationals set the market for above-average corner outfielders and now Swisher is just playing along. He and his agent would be stupid not to.

I’m all for keeping Swisher at a reasonable price, which ideally would be a little more than Michael Cuddyer’s three-year, $31.5M deal with the Rockies. That’s not likely to happen because he’s a much better player than the former Twin, so it could wind up taking something like four years and $52M. That’s the same contract the Yankees gave Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Jorge Posada a few years ago. That’s probably my upper limit, anything more would be really pushing it. Werth money ain’t happening, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

I remember people saying we should sign him for 3/30. Bye Swish, thanks for the years of service.

FIPster Doofus

He’ll be greatly missed.

Knoxvillain

If he can somehow get it, more power to him. But no way in hell he gets that kind of deal. Werth shouldn’t have gotten it in the first place. I can’t see him getting any more than 15M per year.

Reggie C.

Offer 4 years, $60 million and hope the Braves, Red Sox, and any number of other squads don’t swoop in with a guaranteed 5th. An AAV of $15 million “feels” right in this case.

Kevin M.

Feel again….it’s not righ.

thenamestsam

Why not? The market has inflated in a big way the last few years and Swish is basically the definition of a $15 million a year player at this point. $5M per win is a conservative estimate based on what we saw last offseason and swisher has averaged 3.7 over the last 3 years and looks to be headed for another 3-3.5 this year. 13M per would still be a serious hometown discount. 15 would be a fair price.

Stan the Man

$15 to 18 mill a year for Swisher is way too much. The Yanks don’t need him at those dollars and can find cheaper alternatives.

Bill R

If he signed with the Red Sox I’d feel like a relative died. I love Swish and to see him wear a Red Sox uniform would just kill me!

Here’s to hoping he takes a discount to stay in pinstripes@

Eddard

We’ll see if he shows up this postseason. Swisher has been a good regular season player but he’s nowhere to be found come October. Even A-Rod had a good 09 playoffs so it’s time for Swisher to step up. If he wants a big pay day he needs to perform when it matters the most.

MannyGeee

The smallest of samples sizes shall decide your fate, Mr Swisher… for you and Carlos Beltran shall be forever linked in the opposite sides of this spectrum and will likely share the same fate.

Now Batting

Umm, in about a 1/4 a season of PA in the playoffs he’s hit worse than 2012 Russel Martin.

pat

Spread over 5 years. Very meaningful.

Heisenberg’s Hat

I sure hope you don’t judge Derek Jeter for the postseasons where he didn’t show up. There have been plenty of playoff series where he stunk up the joint. Same with guys like Bernie Williams, Barry Bonds, A-Rod, and the mighty Ted Williams.

Andrew

Let’s hope Swisher takes a discount to stay. It’d suck if he got a big contract from somebody like the Marlins so he can languish under Guillen fighting for 4th place in the division every year. In 4 years we should be seeing Williams, Austin and Heathcott. If they all reach their ceilings, talk about a new murderer’s row.

JobaWockeeZ

Don’t count on any prospects reaching their ceilings for this team. While they are all very talented they have a greater chance of being traded than actually busting.

Regardless this kind of statement is the exact opposite of hometown discount. Time to find a replacement.

FIPster Doofus

He’ll never play for Guillen again.

MannyGeee

would you? (question directed to anyone not named Carlos Zambrano…)

FIPster Doofus

If I had a choice, no.

your mom

Werth money? Man, funk dat!!!

Bavarian Yankee

goodbye. My limit would be something like 3/39. I don’t know why but I think he’ll end up in Boston or LA (not Anaheim ;))

If he ends up in Boston then I really hope he gets something like 6/90.

I hear the Giants may be looking for an OF. Any truth to that rumor? :-)

Jag

No thank you, he’s 31 years old. If he wants Werth money, we would be making a huge mistake to pay it imo.

Bye Swish, it was fun cheering for you from the right field bleachers.

Ed

He’d be dumb to not ask for Werth money, but he’d also be dumb to expect to get it. If someone does offer it though, he needs to react exactly how Werth did – don’t ask other teams to counter, just sign immediately.

Cris Pengiucci

Bingo. I highly doubt the Yankees will be a team offering that kind of money to him (and would be disappointed if they did). Love Swish, just not at anywhere near that kind of money/years.

LarryM.,Fl.

I agree with just about all the comments. I just believe the Yanks have got to move away from some long term contracts if at all possible. Cashman and the FO have to start somewhere and the threesome of Cano, Swisher and Granderson may be just too much for the 189 cap in 2014.

We as Yankee fans have to move away from the players that we have to have or can’t do without. Look to the Rays for guidance in this respect. Swisher can be replaced, Granderson can be replaced. In may not be marquee but it should make do. Heavy on the pitching and for 189 million we should survive. I have no suggestions but the front office can not rely on the checkbook to produce players. Trades and development will have to be a more relied on feature for improving the club. Winter trades and more reliance on younger cheaper players with a dominate pitching staff. Arod, teix., Cano, Jeter Gradner, Granderson is a good start for 2013.

MannyGeee

” Heavy on the pitching and for 189 million we should survive.”

Reads ab awful lot like, “as long as we only buy BMWs and not Bentleys, we ‘should’ be able to survive on 10M annual salary”…

Cris Pengiucci

No, more like “just a few Lamborghinis and fill in the rest with Cadillacs”

LarryM.,Fl.

Maybe you just don’t get it. The Yankees will have a tough time keeping their present players heading for FA in the next two years. When I say look at the Rays. They have a roster with about 60 million in payroll. Heavy with a great rotation, decent bullpen. The position players are not what us Yankee fans are use to seeing on the roster. SO, my point is if Swisher or Granderson can not be signed to reasonable contracts. The Yankee FO will have to do a tough job finding replacements. The 189 cap has much of it spoken for with Jeter, cc, Teix and probably Cano. I believe its a very reasonable amount to fill a good roster just not what we are use to seeing.

Hopefully, you understand my point.

blake

Swisher had every right to try for whatever he can get….but 18 million AAV over 7 years he wont be getting…..5/75 is probably his upper limit if the bidding gets competitive (and it might)

Ro

To Mike and the commenters:

Why so sad all?

We’ve gotten 4 years of 4 +War production (at an approx value of $65mm-$70mm) for the cost of Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez, some other flame out I can’t even remember and $30mm spread out over 4 years.

In addition to that, he’s assisted in one WS championship and will birth us one solid draft pick for 2013 when he inevitably turns down the qualifying offer this season (yea to that, it’s been a while since the Yanks are getting a pick from a player leaving town like this).

All in all, we’ve gotten the best of Swisher. It’s very easy to move on at this point. No hard feelings and this is just the nature of the game. The Yanks will not be involved in the bidding.

I’d rather extend Ichiro a one year contract for about $5.5mm-$6mm and go after Justin Upton.

Ethan

Yankees will be hard pressed to get Upton. I don’t think they have the trade chips for it. Maybe if they included Cano in the package.

Ro

Come on. Let’s get serious. Really, Cano? What is with people massively over valuing Upton. Sure. Solid player, but christ let’s get a grip on what he would command in a trade. Something starting with Williams and Banuelos is likely 80% there for a trade. In fact, Williams, Banuelos, and Nunez could probably get it done believe it or not. You don’t have to agree with that, but I bet I’m not that far off.

Laz

Sure Upton is a solid player, but he only averages under 25 homers over 162 games, and a .347 obp. He is a good player, but he has gotten way overrated, and would cost too much. He has really plateaued in development over the past 4 years. To put it in perspective he is currently behind, bautista, beltran, trumbo, bruce, heyward, swish, and choo in production for right fielders.

Stan the Man

Which should mean the Yanks could potentially swing a Swisher like deal to get him. Not saying they will or should, but his value will be low from a production stand point so if AZ really wants to deal him the Yanks can low ball the offer. Towers knows the Yanks farm system as well, so he could be willing to take mid-level prospects and hope they can get the most out of them.

Need Pitching & Hitting

No chance they get Upton for a Swish like deal. White Sox got fleeced selling low after a horrible year for Swisher. A trade for Upton is going to be for what his future upside is, not what he’s done this year. I’m not nearly as high on Upton as some here are, but to expect anything near a Swisher trade is just being completely unrealistic.

Laz

The thing is that the perceived value of upton has grown way out of proportion. The dbacks want a large pool of prospects. Also after this year upton has 3/38.5M left on his extension. (or roughly $13M aav)

So if you think that you can get swish for 3/45 or even 4/56 then you are better off going that route. Yes, you spend an extra 6 mil, but if one of those prospects turns out to be a decent player then you save quite a bit of money. Banuelos could really turn into a solid pitcher that we need, and williams could turn into a very good centerfielder.

At the current time it is really a wash between swish and upton in terms of production, Upton has tons of talent but probably unfairly i am afraid he would turn into his older brother. Swish is only 31 so if you only sign him for 3-4 years then I think they should be able to avoid any significant dropoff from him.

I think that Williams, Banuelos, Nunez, and another is worth more than the 6-10M that the Yankees would save with upton deal.

Get Phelps Up

He can ask for whatever he wants, but I’d be shocked if he got even close to Werth money. The highest I’d be willing to go for him is 4 years, $50-60 million with maybe a mutual or vesting option for a 5th year. I love Swish, but if he says no then I’d thank him for 4 great years and hope that he signs with the Braves or Dodgers rather than the Red Sox or Rangers.

Laz

I thought the Werth signing was really bad when they signed him. I just didn’t like his career production arc, I didn’t think it would bode well over a long term contract.

Rich in NJ

Tender him and move on.

Mike HC

I also just told my boss that I was looking for “Jayson Werth money.”

He told me to shut up and get back to work, ha.

vin

“…Cuddyer’s three-year, $31.5M deal with the Rockies. That’s not likely to happen because he’s a much better player than the former Twin, so it could wind up taking something like four years and $52M.

That gives us a range of 3/31.5, 4/52, 7/126

Sorry, but he’s much more likely to get closer to 7/126 than the first two contracts. Those 4/52 contracts were given out 6-7 years ago. The market for Swisher-type players has clearly grown since then. Especially since gone are the days when you can get 3 or 4 power hitters by just shaking the nearest tree.

My hunch is he’ll sign elsewhere for around 6/96.

Ro

Willingham, Cuddyer, Quentin are just a few who received fairly intelligent deals recently. I don’t know why or how Werth comes into this. It’s a poor reference. I think Swishers agent only hurts his case by referencing both the Werth and Crawford deals, since by most accounts, both have been spectacular failures. The last thing I would want to to as an agent (and I am for the most – not sports) is to have “buyers” associate my product with failed products. It would be far more intelligent to suggest that players like Willingham and co received three years deal. There is a case to be made that Swisher should get a 4th or 5th year at about $15mm per. All that said, I’d say Swish tops out in the 5 year and $72mm range.

Let’s keep in my the same happened with CJ Wilson last year. People reporting he was seeking $100mm plus. That he could get $120mm. I vehemently disagreed with this stating he shouldn’t be paid more than $62mm at best over 4 years. Ultimately he received 5 years and $77mm, which is pretty similar. But the point is the reports and such way WAYYYYYY over estimated his value.

Mike HC

True, but at the same time, Werth got far more than what people were predicting. You just can’t predict what these billionaire owners decide to do.

Stan the Man

He did get more but he has been a complete bust of a player since he signed that deal. Why would any franchise repeat that mistake?

Carl Crawford

Exactly.

Werth completely cratered the market for me!

Need Pitching & Hitting

It happens all the time. Why would the Angels give what they gave Pujols after seeing how the ARod contract is working out? I doubt Swisher gets close to Werth money, but it’s because he’s not quite at the level Werth was when he hit FA, not because someone elses deal didn’t work out.

Laz

In career Year:
Swish ops: .838
Werth ops: .921

MannyGeee

his agent refers to his deal for the same reason every agent refers to every deal a player of the same (or similar) position has set as a “high water mark”…

because its a high water mark. And Swisher has arguably been better then Werth/Crawford COMBINED over the life of those two contracts to date…

toad

True.

What Werth and Crawford tell us is not that Swisher is entitled to the kind of money they got, but that giving him that is insane.

When you start talking about 6-7 year contracts, you have to allow for the fact that you’re going to get a couple of lousy seasons in there, because of injuries or whatever. To not factor that into the offer is stupid.

angel

Three years @ $15MM take it or leave it with mayority of money in last year of contract. He will be 32 when season ends and yanks would be paying most of money when he will be less productive – almost 36 years old.

jjyank

I’m confused so many responses are of the “bye Swish” variety. If he actually holds the line at Werth money, then sure. But nobody should be surprised that his agent is starting there.

DJ4K&Monterowasdinero

Swish ain’t Werth it. Asking for 20+M a year when you can’t run, can’t throw and can’t hit your weight in the post season.

Ain’t getting it.

Cris Pengiucci

The key is “asking”. Just a starting point. If your house is worth $400k and you ask $600K and someone gives it to you, would you turn it down?

I can’t believe he’d get that kind of money from the Yankees, but someone might offer it. Also, it may cause the Yankees to throw their best number out there first, allowing Swish to guage how serious they are and how high they’re willing to go. A good negotiating tactic in my opinion, based on the market.

RetroRob

He’s holding out for Golson.

http://riveraveblues austinmac

The name Jayson Werth is not a good selling point. He is s great example such a contract would be very foolish.

Ro

I said exactly the same thing. From a business standpoint, it’s a horrible association to make when you’re trying to get buyers interested. I do wonder at times is some of the baseball people are actually all that smart. Just saying.

Ask for Jayson Werth money, cant blame him. he is going to be the best of the bunch this off season, much like Werth was.

Meanwhile, let Werth be a cautionary tale… imagine how dangerous Washington would be if they had Werth at the money he deserves pluys $10M worth of another OF or 1B (Prince Fielder, anyone???)

Eddard

Nick Swisher is asking for Robbie Cano money. And he ain’t Robbie Cano. The Werth contract is awful. Why doesn’t Swisher just ask for Ryan Howard or A-Rod money, he’s about as likely to get those contracts as he is Werth’s. Let him walk.

TheOneWhoKnocks

Cano money? Cano’s looking at closer to $220 than $120

Ro

Yeah, well, guess what. Cano isn’t getting anything near that either, brother. Not from the Yanks and not from any other team out there. A team that is, that also makes sense for Cano and his future and the possibility of winning. As stated Dodger dollars are flowing fast and that may dry up well before Cano hits the market. Also, let’s keep in mind one of the intangibles, that Cano is very close with his father who by most accounts seems to be a very decent and serious man. No chance he let’s Robbie make a stupid decision to sign with the Mariners for example, only to land an additional year and $20mm more.

He’ll be offered a 5 year deal in the range of $115mm-$120mm. Possibly with a 6th year option. Maybe he receives a Crawford like deal best case scenario (for him that is) for 7 years and $142mm.

TheOneWhoKnocks

Assuming
1) Cano hits free agency
2) He has his usual season

I don’t see any possible way he signs for less than $160m
He’s been a top 5-8 player for the past few years, plays a premium position and will have the NY Yankees involved in the bidding as a Boras client.
It’s a perfect storm for a mega deal

MannyGeee

all of this. Perfect Storm…

and by the way, there will be another mad spender by that time… Miami will have busted out, Los Doyers might be at the plateau…

You’re being sarcastic right? Miami. The same Miami team that signed Reyes and now wants to trade him? The same team that will “bust out” in the next 12 months? Fat chance of that. Rangers? Kinsler is their 2nd baseman. Could they trade him? Sure, but I don’t see it. Cano will remain a Yankee and he’ll get a 5 year deal around $120mm.

NL
Dodgers
D-Backs
Braves and Giants would never spend that kind of money. No chance. Phillies? Maybe if they get their shit together next year.

AL
Yankees
White Sox (maybe) they have some open dollars around that time
O’s

Can’t imagine there will be more teams then what’s listed above that are either dumb enough or desperate enough or even have payroll space to hand out more than the Yanks and $120mm.

Steve

Cano can and probably will be moving to 3rd base at some point. No reason he can’t do that sooner rather than later. He’s a very good second basemen (according to some metrics), but there is absolutely precedent for that happening. He plays for this very team, as a matter of fact.

Steve

Which is a round about way of saying that it isn’t only teams with an immediate need at 2B that could be in the running

Stan the Man

Why would Cano move to 3rd? That point wasn’t very clear.

King of Fruitless Hypotheticals

second base is tough, and tends to beat up players. with an arm like Robbie’s, he can handle that long throw from 3B–so moving there would extend his career.

Boston.

and I would cry.

Get Phelps Up

He can start off asking for whatever he wants, no matter how unreasonable it seems. Lost of guys do that. Letting a guy walk because his very first contract demand is too much is just dumb.

angel

Let him go and get a decent draft pick in 2013. Get rid of Joba, Betances, Banuelos and trade for a #1 pitcher. Go hard on pitching and eliminate big contracts. DFA Faderod; he has been a farse and fraudulent operator; he is damaged goods and a steroid user more than he claims. Sign Ichiro for 2013!

jjyank

I really hope this is in jest.

Get Phelps Up

Hmmm…angel…so THAT’s what the “a” in stuart’s name stands for.

Bunt Gardner

Or this could be the return of Duh.

Ro

1) Are you sure you’re a Yankee fan?

2) Trade for a #1 pitcher? They have one and a solid #2 in Kuroda who I believe they will easily resign to another 1 year deal after the season. Shaping up the rotation for next year isn’t going to be that tough, to be honest. Besides. They’re aren’t many #1’s available for trade and the few that are, aren’t good matches for the Yanks. Tampa for example would never trade with the Yanks. The Felix ship has sailed and if he ever does become an option it will be in his last year, really negating any positive value for the Yanks. What other #1’s are there? Cuento, Latos? Nope. Braves pitchers are all too young and it’s lateral move frankly, since the Yanks have a handful of comparable young arms. Josh Joshson? No way. He’s damaged big time. The rest like Weaver, Verlander, Cain are franchise players for their respective and competing teams so it’s a moot point there. Chris Sale? Not happening, not unless the White Sox fall off the map and still that’s not happening and he’s not a slam dunk #1 anyway.

3) Trade Joba, Betances, Banuelos? Really? Joba, ok maybe, but I still think they move Hughes before Joba, just a gut feeling if either were to go. Betances is really nothing more than an add on piece with Williams or something for something bigger, but little current value.

4) Arod is a fraud? Really? I disagree. Might have a little nancy in him these days, but far from a fraud.

5) Ichiro would be a solid signing for 2013 at $5mm or $6mm, but there will be other bidders so no loss or gain either way.

MannyGeee

obvious troll is stuarta(ngel)

TheOneWhoKnocks

I think he ends up with 5 years 82m (Burnett money)
I don’t think we’ll be the team that signs him unless he’s willing to do something like 4 years 62m and even that is probably out of our price range.

MannyGeee

ummm, that would be Jason Bay money… obvious OF comparison to continue the trend

Frank

My bet is unless he is willing at accept say a 3/35-39 from the Yanks(max of 13M AS), he’ll wind up with the Dodgers. They have $$ to spend, his wife is an actress and they live there (at least in the off season)- all roads point to LA.

TheOneWhoKnocks

they have Kemp in CF and Ethier in RF signed long term and they just gave Puig big money to be their LF of the future, so I don’t think they’ll be involved

Ro

Agreed and they have to figure something out with Kershaw and even Billingsly soon. Plus they have to make an effort to get another arm in the rotation first. If Cliff Lee does go on the market this fall, I expect that to be a higher priority. Point being, Dodger dollars are going to dry up fast. This is good too, because I consider them to be the biggest competitor in the Cano bidding. The more they spend now on the rotation, the less they’ll have for the field, one that already has a few big contract in Hanley, Kemp, Either.

Kosmo

Swisher is a very good 1B and the Dodgers with Loney, who has become a monumental failure, is one position the Dodgers are looking to upgrade.

TomH

This is the correct analysis!

viridiana

Who was the nitwit that actually brought up Werth’s name? Why remind teams of a horrendous contract? Might as well say he’s looking for Carl Crawford money.

Tcmiller30

Later Swish. Good luck.

Robert

Love Swisher but he cant hit good pitching,come playoff time we will all be reminded of it. I wish him luck,Promote Zmont and Melky Mesa see if we can sign Ichiro at a price and wait for Austin, Williams and Slade in 2014.

chuck

Totally agree. Career .169 hitter in the playoffs.. I really like the guy and he was a good trade. But I don’t see any point to handing that much money to a player that can help get you to the playoffs and then stop producing.
Cano is the only player worth signing out of granderson and swisher. Even if he walks to first on ground outs. Next year through granderson in right.

MannyGeee

“Career .169 hitter in the playoffs”

SMALL SAMPLE SIZEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Remember when Carlos Beltran hit like 20 HR’s in the 2005 playoffs and went on to be broken in Queens for the rest of the decade? Yeah, pretty much the same

Stan the Man

Small sample size or not you get judged on those numbers. At the end of the day Swisher has had 6 series to do something and hasn’t done a thing in the playoffs, that has to come to the table when he is negotiating a potential mega deal.

TomH

Agree. That 6 number is what matters. Leave the “small sample size” for statpedants. In any case, over a normal career of, say, 12-15 years, 6 post-seasons is not a “small” number at all. It looks like a pretty good number, in fact.

Need Pitching & Hitting

He’s played in 9 postseason series. BY OPS, 2 have been excellent. 2 have been pretty solid. 1 has been bad. 4 have been awful.

Bavarian Yankee

let’s get Yuniesky Betancourt, he’s a .310 hitter in the postseason. Quality hitter. Don’t be fooled by his regular season numbers. He’s just bored during the regular season, Jesus Montero will confirm that.

Mike HC

There are a lot of free agent outfielders next off season. A certain percentage of them are bound to get lost in the shuffle and undervalued, and then the Yanks can choose from that group.

mick taylor

swisher is overrated. if josh willingham or carlos beltran and others signed with the yanks, they would have hit better, due to yankee stadium and hitting in the yankee lineup. and he has been horrible in the post season. i would be shocked if he hits above 200 assuming the yanks go far in the playoffs this year. i would not give him more than 2 years at 13 millin with maybe an option for a third year.i would let him, and martin go, and trade granderson and sign josh hamilton. hamilton would hit 50 homeruns with the yanks and terrorize the al east.

chuck

he would also lead the league in blood alcohol level. I agree with everything but I would not bring Hamilton to New York. Thats a huge gamble. Not trying to be a dick.. I understand how hard recovering from that stuff is.. but theres a lot of fun to be had in New York.

Ro

Copy.

Let’s give out a tremendous amount of money to someone who is injury prone, has significant off the field issues, and ultimately will be regulated to the DH spot full-time in the next 2-3 seasons.

Furthermore, Swisher is far “UNDERRATED” homey. $70mm worth of production over 4 years at a cost of $30mm and couple nothing players. Will he be paid too much on his new deal? Probably, but calling him overrated present day is just absurd.

MannyGeee

dude, you’re ruining the narrative. Swisher sucks and cant swing a banjo in October… so go get someone “better”.

see how much better it is to follow the sheep?

Ro

If there is one thing I’ve done poorly in my life, that is to follow…

Get Phelps Up

If you put so much stock in to Swisher’s postseason stats and want Hamilton so badly, you’ll be happy to know that Hamilton’s career postseason line is .234/.303/.438

TheOneWhoKnocks

Cano was a poor postseason hitter then the past couple years he’s been our best postseason hitter.

A-Rod had several weak years then carried us in 2009.

The point i’m trying to make it, you really shouldn’t put too much stock into a 2 week sample of at bats.

Guys will hit to their career averages if given enough at bats. Hitting in the postseason isn’t a separate skill

I know and agree. I was just trying to say that wanting Hamilton over Swisher bases on postseason performances (which the original comment seemed to imply) is dumb if not just for the reason that Hamilton right now is a poor postseason hitter. There are reasons to want Hamilton over Swisher and Swisher over Hamilton, but neither should be based on postseason performance.

Get Phelps Up

*based

Stan the Man

That would explain the lack of clutch hits in the post-season from the Yanks the last 2 yrs then.

TomH

Hitting in the postseason isn’t a separate skill

What is the evidence for this very counter-intuitive claim? The stadiums filled, tv’d to the baseball world, hundreds of press in town, etc. Sounds to me as if it takes some real skill to maintain one’s level of performance in such a situation. It’s one of the reasons, I suspect, why the Yankees have sought out veterans for short-term use, going back to Johnny Mize, guys who’ve been around and have shown some aptitude for handling pressure (whether of event–World Series–and/or of location: NYC). This “given enough at bats” argument smacks of statisticism.

Get Phelps Up

Go look at most any player who has played in a lot of postseasons. Some series are really bad, some are meh, and others are really good and they tend to even out. Postseason performance is just as volatile as any other stretch of 20-60 plate appearances throughout the season.

Heisenberg’s Hat

Please pick the winning Powerball numbers for me, homes.

Bo Knows

And Swish is out his damn mind. Werth wasn’t even deserving of “Werth money” Oh well, good luck to you Swish, its been fun.

Now NY needs a cheap serviceable stand in for next year so Austin and/or Slade can get ready

MannyGeee

oh you mean those two guys in single A? yeah lets hold our breath for those 2.

Bo Knows

Yes I mean the two players who are hitting very well in High A, who both have a pretty good chance of starting next year in AA Trenton. AA is also considered the level with the highest concentration of top pitching prospects (with very high grade stuff), and is not that much weaker than AAA pitching, which is why so many hitters can make the AA to MLB jump. That puts those two at a 2014 season arrival, and at best the second half 2013.

of course you knew all that before you decided to open your mouth and sound like a prick, right?

Need Pitching & Hitting

At best second half 2013? Half a season above A ball and playing for the Yankees?
Sept. callup is probably absolute best case for next year, and even that is probably extremely unrealistic. More likely second half 2014 is best case. Sept. callup in 2014 more likely.

Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

….and I want a house by the shore and to never have to work another day in my life. I also want two cars, a 10K home theater system and, just for shits, a fucking pony.

In all seriousness, that’s a hell of a first shot, and he very well may get it. it’s not going to be from the New York Yankees.

4/60 is the highest I go, and I cringe even saying that.

RetroRob

When you reach the cringe point, you’re probably at least at the point where discussions begin. : -) I’d be fine with 4/60 too based on where I think the market will be, which means I’m going to be off. I think some team is going to offer him five years.

DM

Adios.

Voice of Reason

I’m sure he “wants” lots of things, but it won’t actually take that to sign him.

Dan

Similar to what some others have said, I would also offer 4/60 and hope he takes it. With how thin the outfield market is though I doubt he would take it and he most likely will be able to find one team that will give him Werth/Crawford money. There is always one team that is willing to overpay. The question will be how much Swisher loves NY because he has repeatedly said how much he enjoys playing here.

Darren

Aren’t you all Yankees fans? Don’t you enjoy seeing the Yankees win? Doesn’t Swisher help you win? Then why would you give a FLYING FUCK if he gets overpaid? Oh, right. because the Yankees have a budget. A self imposed meaningless budget. What would happen if the Yankees spent $300mm on payrool in 2014? NOTHING! Would they go under? Would Hal have to sell the team? Start buying Budget Gourmet instead of STouffers? NO! They decided to change their entire financial approach, after raping the city for the abomination known as Yankee Stadium, turning the game expereince into one never eneding advertisement, all of ti predicated on doing WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN THE WORLD SERIES BECAUSE FAILURE IF THEY DON’T.

This austerity BULLSHIT is infuriating. Hal, Hank and Yankees Global LLC are BEYOND CASH RICH. They could give Swisher twice Werth money and still not even feel a fucking ripple in their bottom line. So instead of seeing Swisher in right you want the corpse of Ichiro? Give me a goddamn break.

Darren

Pay him the money
Much, much more than you want
Better than Barfield

Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

How did you go from rant to haiku there?

Darren

I’m trying to be more succi

Deep Thoughts

A-1. Top shelf. Great stuff.

King of Fruitless Hypotheticals

This austerity BULLSHIT is infuriating.

You ever think about getting a position with the govt? I think you would have a positive impact.

Swisher wants Werth-money, will take something less. Yankees won’t pay Werth-money, will pay something less. Other teams, if they’re not insane, will balk at Werth-money, although somebody might bite.

Good luck if somebody bites, if not, I hope we’re competitive. Would like to see him back for a few years, if not, we get a new RF somewhere else (Ichiro for a year would be cool!) and it isn’t like we don’t have a handful of DH candidates already.

Tex’s contract always seems to mess up my absurd plans for the team, so I’ll save you the ‘I have the magic lineup’ speech, as well as the ‘My preposterous trade suggestion that would never happen in the real world’ proposal.

Darren

Lol, it’s one thing when it’s the Gov’t spending my tax dollars on GSA parties and corruption-fueled junkets instead of education or defense or welfare (all good things in my mind). It’s just a teensy bit different when it’s a private company where the only impact is felt by its billionaire owners.

bah bah bah, the sheeple will fall in line.

TomH

This all makes good sense–why is everyone trying to brown nose up to Hal and his Excel program?–except for one thing: how do you know (not suspect!) that the Yankees are as filthy rich as you say? Where is the public evidence for this?

Mike Myers

Melky will be cheap next year….4MM stop gap?

RetroRob

Nah. Every team is thinking the same thing. He’ll get at least an offer of two years and $16M…assuming he’s not in prison!

Reggie C.

His attempt to steer investigators wrong with the website shows something of a calculating mind. If not his idea, then he’s in with some pretty outrageous people … Keep him far away from this team.

Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

Melky? Calculating mind? Surely we must be thinking of two different people here.

Stan the Man

Hmmm, lets stay away from a good defensive player with the ability to steal bases at 28 yrs old who will be much cheaper than previously thought, all because he got caught cheating? I am pretty sure the Yanks can handle him if they choose to go that route. It’s not like they have a bunch of choir boys on their team and the core group have played with Melky and like him, pretty sure this would qualify as an overreaction.

Need Pitching & Hitting

Good defensive player is being generous. He’s about an average OF (way below avg. in CF, slightly above avg in RF) I think they should consider him if the price/years drop low enough, but other teams likely will as well, and he likely won’t come as cheap as some seem to believe he will.

Bubba

Swish can want Werth money. I can want Monica Bellucci. I have a feeling both of us are going to be disappointed.

Darren

Nick will make millions
You won’t even get Oprah
Not that similar

Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

Bubba will be sad
When up close she looks fifty
Airbrushed Belucci

Darren

First I LOLd. then I googled her. Damn, she’s 48! Very MILFY, but yeah, probably Maggie May, morning light hits her she really shows her age kind of thing. Then again, if Bubba’s like, 70, she’s probably be perfect for him.

Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

Then again, you just quoted a song from an early 70’s Rod Stewart album.

Actually, “Every Picture Tells a Story” is one of my favorite albums of all time.

Darren

Yes, but I also quote Beowulf and it doesn’t mean I was alive when it came out.

My fave Rod Stewart is probably Young Turks. But Do Ya Think Im Sexy is also quite nostalgiac

Bubba

Older women need lovin’ too and I’m just the dude to give it to them

Bubba

Say it ain’t so, Robinson

Bubba

I think I have an outside shot. Confidence is the key.

Evan3457

In my opinion, Swisher is just reaching the age of serious decline. 2 years, $25 million, with a team option for similar $$$ for 1 more year.

If not, thanks for everything Swish, and vaya con Dios.

Brian S.

LOLOLOLOLOL. If he is getting that contract I hope it is on Boston.

Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

I’d rather have him out in the NL somewhere where I don’t need to see him in another uniform as often. Sorry.

RetroRob

Unless Heyman got that information from Swisher or his agent, then it’s meaningless, and Heyman himself says it’s secondhand. Yet of course Swisher will be looking for Werth money. If I was in Swish’s position, I’d be looking for Werth money. We’d all be looking for Werth money. Yet it was an outlier right at the start, with the Nationals making a statement and pre-empting the market. Unless there’s a Nats-type team out there (the Dodgers, perhaps?), then I just don’t see it.

He is going to get more than people think. Fans generally undervalue the market for their players, and this is a market that is short on corner OFers. The game overall is short on corner OFers! He’ll get a four or five-year deal from some team in the $55-70M range. Well south of Werth money, but well north of Cuddyer and Willingham money. It’s also why the Twins are going to sit back this offseason, wait until Hamilton signs, Swisher and Upton signs, and then they’ll put of the for-sale sign.

Jose M. Vazquez

I always liked Swisher since he was in Oakland. When he came over, I immedately saw him as a regular at 1b or the of. To my surprise, Girardi did not even intend to play him choosing Nady as the regular right fielder. And it took an injury to Nady for Girardi to put Swish in the lineup otherwise who knows. That shows how some people judge talent. Although I do not favor more than a 3-4 year deal because of his age, I don’t see a good replacement in the horizon. So I say make a good offer for 3-4 years and if he walks, so be it.

Darren

Forgot about X!
In hindsight terrible move
Girardi was dumb

Heisenberg’s Hat

4 years for 60 million, with a club option for a 5th year. That should be the limit. And I really hope he takes it. I don’t want him going anywhere, but I also don’t want to overpay for his his late 30’s decline.

JScott

Nick seems like one of those “Exhibit A” free agents you should run (not walk) away from as fast as your feets will take you. Increased likelihood of a steep decline due to limited athleticism; heading into his 32-year-old season…

We don’t have an obvious replacement in the system but that’s not an adequate justification for signing a bad contract. Offer him arb, take your draft pick, thank him for his service

And smile.

not that mike

Ciao Swish…and unfortunately in NY, you are defined by that small sample-size called playoffs, where you choke each year under the bright lights.

a nice OF who helps lengthen the lineup against regular-season mediocre pitching and plays every day….watching him every day at 3/39 would be a pleasure….but if he wants to suck up 15-18mm a year and man the 5-hoele in Baltimore or Atlanta …well God Bless him :)

Robinson Tilapia aka Melky’s Webmaster

Not even Mike Bloomberg speaks for all of NYC.

RetroRob

The Red Sox, Dodgers, Braves, etc. Plenty of good teams will want him. No shortage of the demand side.

Heisenberg’s Hat

You have a very limited understanding of how the playoffs work.

Darren

I like your smile
Better than JD Drew’s frown
Big dong in the fall?

Fernando

I’m sure this has all been noted here…
1) You can ask for anything, but that doesn’t guarantee that you will get it.

2) Werth wasn’t worth 18M a year as the Nats overpaid

3) Phils were wise to not pay that amount and Yanks would be wise to not go there either.

4) Swisher’s enthusisasm and production will be missed, but the team can make better use of 18M a year than on a 30+ OF.

5) There will be numerous suitors, including the ever present mystery team.

OMG! Bagels!

CC could have gotten more but chose to stay and avoid the circus. If CC can do it, Swish who is so in love with NY, should be able to do it before the circus comes to town.

RetroRob

CC had a out clause he could trigger. He obviously let the Yankees know he planned to trigger it and the two sides worked out a new deal.

Swisher doesn’t have an out clause. He’ll be a free agent. It’s up to the Yankees to make an offer as they did with CC.

pistol pete

If Swisher wants more than 3 and 30 I’d say goodbye, sign Ichiro for a year or two at 1/3 of the price. Ichiro will hit 20 HR’s in NY, field, run, and throw better thsn Swisher. Spend the money on pitching.

Deep Thoughts

Gross. Way too much for a 4th OF.

pistol pete

If Swisher wants more than 3 and 30 I’d say goodbye, sign Ichiro for a year or two at 1/3 of the price. Ichiro will hit 20 HR’s in NY, field, run, and throw better than Swisher. Spend the money on pitching.

Tyler

If Rafael Soriano opts out of his contract, which i assume he will, wouldnt that then free up money to throw towards Swish?

Herby

So Long, Farewell….Auf wiedersehen, goodbye…
I would try to convince him to take less…press upon him the future that goes along with being a former Yankee…and the greater off field opportunities that are available for finances being in the New York area and perhaps help him explore those. Who knows…Swishes Bitches Escort Service…
Other than that I’d rather see a one year replacement and then give one of the kids a shot.